3D text exporting quality - problem

[Ann Smith]

How can I export 3D text with high quality from Illustrator for use in a billboard? I'm encountering low resolution and grainy images, and need the exported files to maintain excellent quality.

[Monika Gause]

Billboard in this case means printed or electronic?

If printed: what is the resolution?

If electronic: what are the file dimensions?

How is the Raster effects resolution set up?

High quality Raytracing?

[Ann Smith]

Thank you for replying! ❤️ The design is for print purposes, and the size of the billboard is 504 x 238 cm at 300 dpi.

First I first designed a sketch in a smaller dimension as a draft for the client, and now that I've adjusted it to the correct dimensions for printing, I keep getting memory errors
( https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/not-enough-memory-illustrator-cc.html ). I'm attaching the design sketch for you to see.... I've tried following the instructions, but I still encounter errors. I'm not sure if the problem lies in creating 3D letters at such large dimensions or something else. I don't know what to do.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Are you sure that you need 300 ppi for a billboard that large?

[Ann Smith]

Yes, I didn't think about that, my mistake 😕 What do you suggest? 72 dpi or lower?

[Bobby Henderson]

In inches the billboard would measure roughly 198.4 X 93.7. Anyway, 300ppi at that size is overkill.

In the United States it is common for billboard face printing companies to accept files that are made in scale, such as 1 inch equals 1 foot with raster/pixel content at 300ppi in that scale. Blown up 1200% to full size that yields an effective resolution of 25ppi. That may seem coarse, but multiply it by however many inches the billboard face measures. A 48' X 14' billboard would have a 14,400 X 4,200 pixel image. And that's at 25 pixels per inch.

I would strongly recommend talking to people at the company who will print the billboard face and asking them for their artwork submission guidelines.

Depending on the method used for installing the billboard face you may need to incorporate bleed around the perimeter of your design. In the US it's common to add 6" of bleed all around a billboard face. These faces are stretched over metal frames; installation may not always be "perfect." It's also a good idea to not design copy too close to the edge of the ad for the same reason.

[Ton Frederiks]

How large is your billboard?

Are you using scaling or a large canvas document?

[Ann Smith]

hello Ton, tnq for replaying ❤️ size of billboards is 504 x 238 cm, no i'm not using scalling, I created a new document and set the dimensions, bleed, etc.

Also, You can see my response above and the problem I'm encountering (memory error), as well as the image of the design.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

That is not a large canvas document, but as Monika suggested, try to bring down the raster effects resolution.

Or use the smaller one, expand the Appearance and scale it up. You may get a decent result since the 3D effect will use vector clipping masks and gradients as images have a tolerance before they look bitmapped, especially when viewed from a distance.

[Ann Smith]

Thanks a lot for the help, all of you! You saved me. I will try that approach and let you know the results.

[Ann Smith]

sorry, one more Q, when i set new document, raster effects PPI i can also put in lower size?

[Ann Smith]

Sorry again, haha! You already answered me; you told me to lower the raster effect, I mixed up the terms DPI and PPI.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Yes you can.

When creating a new document there is a list to choose Raster Effects resolutions

After creating a document and in an existing document you can also change it and specify your own: Effect > Document Raster Effects Settings...

[Ann Smith]

now i have another problem, do you know why this shadow frame around the letters appears? How can I solve it? sorry for bothering

[Monika Gause]

The shadow bounds can only be extended so far. If you have reached that limit,thn that's that.